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I agree to Living in London contacting me with information about properties that might interest me as well as sending me other newsletters from time to time. I have read and agree to Living in London’s Privacy Policy.

If you’ve seen our previous blogs, you’re probably well on your way to making great interior design changes to your home to stay on trend, adopting the colour green. Or perhaps you’re ready to buy, sell or rent with a new-found knowledge of the UK housing market and what to expect in 2017. At Living in London, we know trying to find the right tenant or buyer can be stressful, frustrating and not always straight-forward. A happy viewing can speed up the sales or rental process and keep interest competitive, giving you the best possible price. That’s why this Valentine’s Day, we’ve come up with five top tips to make sure it’s love at first sight for your potential tenant or buyer.

The first thing they see

Whether you have an extravagant front garden or a front door in an apartment building, make sure the front of your home is well-presented. Mow the lawn, de-weed the pathway, trim the hedges, invest in some potted plants, and consider giving the front door and windows a lick of paint. Essentially, the goal is to make them want to come in. If the property has communal areas, ensure these are looking their best and contact your management company if necessary. It’s no good having an amazing, spotless, beautiful apartment if by the time the viewer gets to it they are put off by the poorly managed communal areas with paint flaking and stained carpets, or worse still, lifts out of order. People don’t want to spend £500k + on a property that will give their friends and relatives the impression it’s in a poor block.

Let there be light

It may sound obvious, but to ensure your property shines in its best light, turn on the lights and open the curtains and blinds before a prospective buyer or tenant enters. You want them to focus on the appeal of the property, not fumbling for light switches and tripping over furniture. Let as much natural light in as possible. If you’re holding a viewing in winter, you may want to consider investing in some additional sources of light or rearrange furniture to create a radiant atmosphere.

Spring Cleaning

It goes without saying that the property should be thoroughly cleaned prior to a viewing, but something that often gets forgotten or overlooked is de-cluttering. Ensure surfaces are clear in bedrooms, bathrooms and especially the kitchen – the kitchen is a huge selling point. They need to visualise themselves using it as their own so organisation is key. Kid’s rooms can turn into a bit of a warzone so it’s important that at least for the viewing, toys are tidied away. If mould is starting to show around the edges of the bath, you may wish to replace the sealant as this can be quite a turn off. Remember, there are no barriers during a viewing. Prospective buyers and tenants will examine every nook and cranny of the property, so ensure cupboards are well organised and make sure you hoover under the beds.

Don’t air your dirty laundry

Viewings can be short notice so be aware that you could have visitors while you’re away or with little time to prepare. Don’t let rubbish build up, regularly empty the bins and don’t leave last night’s take away on the side just in case someone needs to pop by. Don’t leave anything out that you wouldn’t want viewers to see. This can be anything from personal post to underwear. We also recommend getting into the habit of making your bed look presentable and putting shoes away.

Home is where the heart is

You’re not just selling the property; you’re selling a lifestyle. Viewers have to picture themselves living there so extra touches often go a long way. It’s a bit of a cliché but the smell of fresh baked bread or brewed coffee always go down a treat. If it’s cold outside, turn the heating on so the property is warm and inviting and they won’t want to leave in a hurry. Every aspect of the property needs to be inviting so ensure nothing is neglected.

Top tip from Branch Manager Elizabeth Miller: “Display fresh flowers, pretty perfumes and nice looking bottles of wine to create an air of opulence and luxury when viewing.”

How do you feel walking round the property? Would you want to live here? Presentation and organisation are vital during viewings but for something extra, check that your agent is aware of any special features the property has; the view from a certain window at a particular time of day… Something you could only know after living in the property to accentuate its personality.

At Living in London, our aim is simple – to exceed the expectations of our clients. If you feel we’ve delivered a fantastic service and you would happily recommend us to a family member, friend, colleague, or anyone who is looking to rent or sell their property, send them our way!

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